Heating system for incubators and other apparatus.



F. E. BOWERS.

HEATING SYSTEM FOR INCUBATORS AND OTHER APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED l.ULY24,1916.

' Patented Dec. 12,1916.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

00.. Imam-1.1 we.w WASNINGTON n. c

FRANK E. BOWERS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented nee. i2, ieie.

Application filed July 24, 1916. Serial No. 110,944.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. Bownns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Heating System for Incubators and other Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

The invention relates generally to air-circulating systems and has reference more particularly to the application of such system to incubators, brooders or driers, the invention having reference more particularly to a system whereby circulating-air is economically heated and advantageously utilized.

An object of the invention is to provide a structure having a chamber and means therein for efficiently radiating heat in an economical and simple manner. Another object is to provide an improved heating system including heat radiators for incubators, brooders or driers that may be produced inexpensively and which may be maintained at the minimum expense and be efficient, durable and economical in use. A further object is to provide an incubator or the like that shall be of simple and inexpensive construction and be adapted for supplying the requisite heat by means of heated am "With the abovementioned and other ob jects in view, the invention consists in a structure having a chamber and provided with a novel heater and heat radiators and also a novel circulating system whereby air in the chamber is heated and re-heated vantageously; the invention consisting further in the parts and combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter particularly described and further defined in the accompanying claims.

Referring to the draWings,Figure 1 is a top plan of an incubator constructed substantially in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the improved incubator. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line III-ITI on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section approximately on the line TV-IV on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line VV on Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the line VIVI on Fig. 3. And, Fig. 7 i's'a' fragmentary vertical section on the line VIIVII on Fig. 5.

On the diiferent figures of the drawings like characters of reference indicate like elements or features of construction herein referred to. n

An incubator provided with the improved heating system may be variously constructed generally, and for the purposes of illustrating the invention and explaining the mode of operation thereof preferably is principally metallic and suitably comprises a pan 1 which is adapted to hold a layer of sand and to support a tray which comprises a circular wall 2 having a ledge 3 on its interior, a floor 1 being supported upon the ledge and preferably composed of wire netting. The floor however may be otherwise made reticulate. The tray has a suitable number of legs 5, 6, 7, 8 which are removably supported in the pan 1. The floor 4 is adapted for supporting eggs at a suitable distance above the pan or ground upon which the incubator may be used.

The main portion or housing of the incubator comprises a cylindrical wall 9 having a top 10 thereon, the top having a window 11 therein. The wall has a suitable opening in the upper portion thereof to form communication with a heatingand circulating chamber which is provided and formed as a casing by means of a bottom plate 12 and a top plate 13 secured to the wall at the bottom and top respectively of the opening, and a wall having a front l-tand sides 15 and 16, the Wall being secured to the bottom and top plates and also to the wall 9 at the sides of the opening therein. The bottom 12 and top 13 have each a suitable aperture therein in which a hollow truncated cone 17 is secured to constitute a heat radiator and an I inclined portion of the bottom 12. A. partition 18 is arranged adjacent to the inner end of thebottom plate 12 and at a suitable distance therefrom and from the inside of the Wall 9 and it has two sides 19 and 20 that are secured to the inside of the wall 9, so as to form a circulating duct, the partition extending downward below the plane of the floor 4 and upward a suitable distance beyond the plane of the bottom plate 12. A division plate 21 is horizontally arranged on the top of the partition 18 and extends preferably to the hollow cone 17 and also in the opposite direction a suitable distance above the floor 4, the division plate being approximately midway between the bottom and top of the heating and circulating chamber. Two tubes 22 and 23 are arranged upon or above the division plate 21. and have open ends, one end of each tube being secured to the cone 17 which has suitable apertures to form communication with the interior of the tubes. The tubes extend divergently from the cone to the farther'portions of the wall 9 and have their opposite open ends outside of the wall in which the end portions of the tubes are secured. The tubes constitute fiues for the gases of combustion and attending heat, and radiators for the heat. The tubes 22 and 23, being arranged above the floor 4: conserve the heat from the heating lamp commonly used and radiate the heat in such manner as to tend to uniformly heat the air above the supporting floor 4:.

The interior of the upper portion of the housing is suitably lined as is customary, and for this purpose a ledge 24 preferably is secured to the inside of the wall 9 and supports suitable lining 25 on the inside of the wall, the lining extending around to the partition 18 and being provided at its ends with end plates 26 and 27 that extend up to a lining 28 with which the inside of the top or cover 10 is provided to prevent the external radiation of the heat. In order to admit air into the interior of the incubator the wall 9 j 1 is provided with a suitable number of aperportion thereof.

tures 29, 30, 31, 32 arranged in the lower For heating the air in the incubator a suitable lamp 33 is employed which has a metallic chimney 34 adapted to conduct heat from the lamp into the hollow cone 17 The top of the cone is provided with a valve or damper 35 which normally rests upon the top plate 13 and has an operating stem 36 which is connected with a lever 37 having a suitable pivot 38 upon the top 10. The lever may be controlled 'by various well known means such as an adjustable rod 39 extending down through the top 10 and suitably connected so as to be actuated by a thermostatic device 40 of well known or any suitable construction.

The structure, as will be seen, is well suited for thorough distribution of heat and heated atmospheric air in the incubator above the floor 4: that is designed to support the eggs, a result very much desired in incubators.

In practical use the air to be heated is conducted from below the floor 4; through an up-duct formed by the partition 18, the air passing under the plate 21 to and about the heat-radiating cone 17 to take the place of air previously heated that rises and passes over the division plate 21 into the upper portion of the space in the incubator, the air passing over and between the tubes or radiators 22 and 23 which assist in maintaining the temperature of the air. While the air slowly cools in proximity to the eggs on the floor 4c the cooler air descends through the floor and with fresh air from below passes up behind the partition 18 to be re-heated and utilized as before. The degree of heat is regulated automatically as will be understood by means of the thermostatic device acting when the heat is suiiicient for the purpose so as to lift the valve or damper 35 and permit the heat from the lamp to di rectly pass away into the atmosphere, the valve or damper being automatically lowered again when the temperature falls in the incubator.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is,-

1. A heating system including a wall to form an inclosure and having an opening' adjacent to its top, a heater casing having an open side secured to the wall to cover the opening, the casing having two duct portions therein on different horizontal planes, the upper one of the duct portions having communication with the interior of the inclosure, a heat-radiator in the heater casing, and an up-duct having its terminal connected with the lower one of the duct portions at a distance from the heat-radiator.

2. A heating system including a wall to form an inclosure and having an opening adjacent to its top, a heater casing having an open side secured to the wall to cover the opening, the casing having two duct portions therein on dilferent horizontal planes, the upper one of the duct portions having communication with the interior of the inclosure, a heat-radiator in the heater casing, a draft tube connected with the heat-radiator and extending through the upper one of the ducts, and an up-duct having its terminal connected with the lower one of the two duct portions at a distance from the heat-radiator.

3. A heating system including a wall to form an inclosure and having an opening adjacent to its top, a heater connected to the wall and having a chamber in communication with the opening, a hollow heat-radiator in the chamber of the heater, a fiat horizontal division plate in the chamber and extending from the heat-radiator outward from the chamber into the inclosure to form two duct portions in the chamber, the upper one of the duct portions having communication with the chamber and the inclosure, and an up-duct having its terminal connected with the chamber below the division plate and adjacent to the wall.

4. A heating system including a wall having an opening in one portion thereof, a heater connected to the wall and having a chamber in communication with the opening, a hollow truncated cone connected to the bottom and top of the heater and extending through the chamber therein, a horizontal division plate in the chamber and extending from the cone outward from the chamber into the space Within the wall, a partition opposite to the inside of the wall below the division plate and having sides connected to the wall to form an up-duct, the partition extending up to the division plate an adjustable closure for the top of the cone, and a draft flue connected to the cone above the division plate and extending through the opposite portion of the Wall.

5. In a heating system, the combination of a housing comprising a wall and a top on the Wall, the wall having an opening in one portion thereof adjacent to the top, a heater cas ing having an open side secured to said wall to cover said opening, a hollow truncated cone extending through and connected to the top and bottom of said casing, a division plate horizontally supported in said casing and extending into the space within said wall, a partition adjacent to the inside of said wall and having sides secured to the wall to form an up-duct, said partition being below and extending up to said plate, and a plurality of tubes connected to said cone and extending divergently above said plate and through and secured to opposite portions of said wall, with a floor supported below said tubes.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK E. BOWERS.

Witnesses:

E. T. SILvIUs, MYRTLE MCCOY.

Uopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Uommissloner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

